Kelsea Beamer Double Lung Transplant
My name is Kelsea Beamer. I am 17 years old and go to Faith Fellowship School in Yadkinville, NC. I was put on a Lung Transplant List at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill on 10/6/2009 due to effects of Cystic Fibrosis.
I received two Perfect New Lungs 2/23/2011
Following a 4 week hospital stay (most of which was in ICU) my Mom (Tonia) and I were required to live in the Chapel Hill area for up to 3 months after surgery. We had to be close to UNC Hospital in case a need of any kind arose, for weekly medical appts, to attend physical
therapy 3 days a week, and to monitor
anti-rejection medication levels.
The Lord has blessed me with an excellent group of supporters and prayer warriors!
I would like to thank you in advance for all your donations, love, support, and more importantly the many prayers that are given on our behalf...
GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS!!!
Psalms 138:8 - "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me!"
Kelsea has gone "from" sleeping 14 to 16 hours a day (sometimes more) on BiPAP, having hardly no energy, carbon dioxide levels too high to read (known to be as high as 140+), coughing all the time, 2 1/2 to 3 hours of therapy and breathing treatments every morning and again every evening, oxygen 24/7, having port-a-cath, frequent tube feedings, not being able to walk short distances without sats dropping and/or being out of breath, always requiring assistance with walking any distance, bathing, washing and drying hair, and going to the restroom (eventually we started rotating hair washing and bathing to every other day - doing both in the same day just became too difficult for her), she also had to shorten sentences in order to get a complete thought out before being out of breath. She loves to laugh, but would often try not to because it would cause her to get choked-up or cough extremely hard which would lead to vomitting. She would try her best to sing - She would have to skip lines to catch her breath and then pick back up and continue. I have had to wait for help ocassionally getting her (sometimes carried) to and from the car and into the house. I couldn't leave her alone for any amount of time and would have to arrange someone to stay with her while I worked or even went to the grocery store. I even slept with a baby monitor in my room for many years. But, the last little while breathing became so difficult for her that I could hear her every breath on the monitor. I would have to continuously move the monitor with me from room to room in order to hear her at all times to quickly detect any respiratory distress.
"to" breathing room air - no oxygen, completely off BiPAP (breathing assist), normal carbon dioxide levels of 28, no port-a-cath (only temporary PICC line that will be took out in a few months), being able to walk until her muscles are tired instead of having to stop due to desaturation or shortness of breath, performing all bathroom duties (lol) on her own, talking constantly!! :) without having to stop frequently during sentences in order to catch her breath, eating whole foods on her own with tube feeds only at night (this is temporary, will not need feeding tube once she is maintaining and gaining weight on her own). Now, I sleep to the sound of her ipod playing praise music over her while she sleeps peacefully, and not one concern or worry of her breathing. She now can finally laugh!!! :) :) :) I love the sound of that!!! I enjoy listening to her sing in the shower again like she used to do so frequently!!! The sound of her breath Praising Our God is so awesome!!!
1-18-2012 - I (Kelsea) am now walking, talking, and on the go all the time! No restrictions! PRAISE GOD!!
I cannot thank you enough for all your prayers and support!!! :) Tonia (Mom)
"to" breathing room air - no oxygen, completely off BiPAP (breathing assist), normal carbon dioxide levels of 28, no port-a-cath (only temporary PICC line that will be took out in a few months), being able to walk until her muscles are tired instead of having to stop due to desaturation or shortness of breath, performing all bathroom duties (lol) on her own, talking constantly!! :) without having to stop frequently during sentences in order to catch her breath, eating whole foods on her own with tube feeds only at night (this is temporary, will not need feeding tube once she is maintaining and gaining weight on her own). Now, I sleep to the sound of her ipod playing praise music over her while she sleeps peacefully, and not one concern or worry of her breathing. She now can finally laugh!!! :) :) :) I love the sound of that!!! I enjoy listening to her sing in the shower again like she used to do so frequently!!! The sound of her breath Praising Our God is so awesome!!!
1-18-2012 - I (Kelsea) am now walking, talking, and on the go all the time! No restrictions! PRAISE GOD!!
I cannot thank you enough for all your prayers and support!!! :) Tonia (Mom)
